Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

MEPs back tighter rules for lobbyists

MEPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a report that recommends the introduction of tighter rules for lobbyists.

The report, which was authored by Ingo Friedrich, a German centre-right MEP, calls for the creation of a mandatory register for lobbyists, financial disclosure by lobbying firms of their main clients and a common set of lobbying-related rules for the main EU institutions.

The report, which was originally drafted by Finnish centre-right MEP Alexander Stubb, won the backing of 747 MEPs in the Parliament’s plenary session in Brussels on 8 May. There were 24 votes against and 59 abstentions.

MEPs called for work to start with the Council of Ministers and the European Commission on a common register by the end of 2008.

The commissioner for administrative affairs, Siim Kallas, who is preparing the Commission’s own code of conduct and register, welcomed the Parliament’s vote, saying: “The Friedrich report gives strong support to the core elements of the Commission’s proposal”.

Kallas highlighted the report’s broad definition of lobbying, and said that the Commission will on 23 June launch its own voluntary register, which is linked to a code of conduct.

The report adopted in the Parliament’s plenary session was very similar to the version approved by the Parliament’s constitutional affairs committee on 1 April. That report recommended, but did not oblige, MEPs to attach to their reports a “legislative footprint”, or a list of interest groups whose input they received.